ACP's Ethics Manual is the foundation of College policy on medical ethics and professionalism. The Sixth Edition of the Manual was published in January 2012 in Annals of Internal Medicine.

ACP Releases Updated Ethics Manual (2:09)

Changes in the Sixth Edition of the Ethics Manual include new or expanded sections on treatment without interpersonal contact; confidentiality and electronic health records; therapeutic nondisclosure; genetic testing; health system catastrophes; caring for oneself, persons with whom the physician has a prior nonprofessional relationship, and very important persons (VIPs); boundaries and privacy; social media and online professionalism; physician-industry relations; interrogation; cross-cultural efficacy, cultural humility, and physician volunteerism; attending physicians and physicians-in-training; consultation, shared care, and the patient-centered medical home; protection of human subjects; use of human biological materials and research; placebo controls; scientific publication; and sponsored research. A case method for medical ethics decision making, which outlines steps physicians can take in resolving ethical dilemmas, is included.

View the full text of the Ethics Manual, Sixth Edition, with Table of Contents

For more information, including questions about previous editions of the Manual, contact Lois Snyder Sulmasy, JD, at lsnyder@acponline.org, or at 215.351.2835. Send requests for a reprint of the English or
Spanish version of the Manual to ethics@acponline.org.

Internal Medicine Meeting 2015 Live Simulcast!

Unable to attend the meeting this year? On Saturday, May 2, seven sessions will be streamed live from the meeting. Register for the simulcast and earn CME credit after watching each session. Watch it live or download for later viewing.